Cardiff City pay the penalty for Howard Webb’s shoddy refereeing

Cardiff City players were dumbfounded by Howard Webb’s call to give a penalty (Picture: Getty Images)

Before the game, no Cardiff City fan would have accepted a point from today’s game; for most, it was win or bust.

Thanks to a combination of poor refereeing and profligate finishing from both sides, the game ended level. And, on the balance of it, that was probably fair.

The real story of the game though revolves around The World’s Best Referee (trademark pending) Howard Webb.

Firstly, let’s start with the penalty he gave Stoke just before half time. Peter Odemwingie, a former Cardiff City staff member (I won’t say player as he really didn’t play), threw himself to the floor like he was auditioning for an appearance in Splash! Once he’s done with football a career in Saturday night television may be a possibility.

If he felt contact, fine. But it wasn’t a penalty, no way. Webb, at this point, drew all eyes to him. He stooped, looked at the penalty and waited. A couple of seconds went past and he pointed to the spot.

It was as if he channeled Dermot O’Leary on X-Factor final night. Building up the tension.

After our penalty, it was all Cardiff. We had a goal disallowed for offside, the Stoke players didn’t take kindly to having people stand up to them. Asmir Begovic fell over with no one around him and had a go at Kim.

And then it all calmed down and the game petered out.

A further word about Howard Webb; he simply isn’t the best referee this league has to offer.

One of my biggest bug bears is how defending has now simply become a game of who can get away with fouling the most. On more than one occasion, he’d pull Ryan Shawcross up and warn him for having his arms all over Steven Caulker (essentially in a head lock).

Once a player is warned, I’d suggest a foul should be given if he did it again. Webb just let it slide. It was unbelievable.